Alleviating drought and water scarcity in the Mediterranean region through managed aquifer recharge

Abstract Drought and water scarcity can significantly impair the sustainable development of groundwater resources, a scenario commonly found in aquifers Mediterranean region. Water management measures to address these drivers depletion are highly relevant, especially considering increasing severity droughts under climate change. This study evaluates potential managed aquifer recharge (MAR) offset adverse effects drought on storage. Los Arenales (central Spain), which was unsustainably exploited for irrigation second half twentieth century, is employed as case study. Two neighbouring zones within this contrasted, namely, (LA) Medina del Campo (MC). The primary difference between them terms resources wide-scale implementation MAR systems LA since early 2000s. Several statistical methods used. Groundwater-level trend analysis average piezometric levels show faster recovery storage less susceptibility compared MC. On other hand, standardised precipitation indexes level detrended groundwater-level time series, do not include MAR, that be more negatively affected by abstraction. sharper when bigger impacts observed measure removed, demonstrate effectively alleviate drought, providing an adaptation solution change worldwide.